Will Regenerative Medicine Replace Surgery For Ligament Tears? Benefits Of ACL Reconstruction

An Alternative Solution For An ACL Tear?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an essential ligament in the knee that helps with stability and lateral movement. ACL tears are common, especially in contact sports, with over 400,000 occurring in the US yearly. A sudden twist during running or jumping or a blow to the knee can lead to this unfortunate injury. ACL tears are classified as a grade 1 sprain, a grade 2 partial tear, or a grade 3 full-thickness tear. Grades 2 and 3 are almost always addressed with ACL reconstruction, but doctors are always searching for alternatives to surgery. Regenerative medicine is being explored as a viable treatment for ligament damage and ACL reconstruction. Will this therapy soon replace the need for surgery?

What is regenerative medicine anyway?

The body is adept at self-healing and even regenerating tissue. Regenerative medicine seeks to leverage this ability. By transferring healing and growth factors to injured tissue, healing may accelerate. In some cases, regenerative medicine can help the body to create new tissue, ligaments, or tendons. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is an example of regenerative medicine. By separating the platelets from a blood sample, these dense healing factors can be injected into a joint or other body part that’s in distress. Another option is bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), which harvests healing factors from bone marrow in the hip. For the best results, these therapies happen over several weeks or months.

What regenerative medicine can do for you

Regenerative medicine is being explored for ligament tears, like ACL injuries, thanks to the many benefits afforded to the patient. By sending more healing factors to the knee, there is less inflammation and pain. Healing also accelerates, especially in the case of a grade 1 tear. Regenerative medicine also allows individuals to avoid surgery, opting for a more natural approach to recovery. There may be other benefits, too, like reducing the risk of osteoarthritis in the future. Regenerative medicine may be the best option for patients who do not need to return to fast-paced activities quickly.

Why it isn’t there yet

While the initial concept of regenerative medicine looks promising, this therapy is not ready to replace ACL reconstruction. For starters, the healing timeline is too uncertain. How long will regenerative medicine take before an ACL is fully healed? Factors like the extent of injury, the potency of the patient’s healing factors, and overall care all play a role. In other words, the outcome is too uncertain. There is also limited research on the long-term outcomes of an ACL healed using regenerative means only. Surgery is the best course of action for athletes as the process is more predictable. With reconstruction, a new tendon is installed, allowing the doctor to determine, with more accuracy, the chances of returning to sports.

Benefits of ACL Reconstruction

ACL reconstruction is the current standard for repairing a partial or fully torn ligament. A surgeon removes the damaged ACL and attaches a new ligament using a graft or donor tendon. Surgery can provide a stronger, sturdier ligament, which is especially important for athletes. ACL reconstruction is also tried and tested, with a predictable 8-12 month return to sport. Doctors can also use minimally invasive surgery (MIS), with smaller incisions and instruments, to perform the procedure. MIS means less pain, fewer complications, and a faster recovery.

Trust the ACL reconstruction gold standard

Regenerative medicine should not be disregarded completely. The therapy looks promising, and as research continues, this may become the standard for less severe ACL injuries. Today, many doctors consider using regenerative medicine in combination with ACL reconstruction. With PRP injections and other strategies during recovery, there is less pain and possibly a faster recovery. For now, ACL reconstruction is the best way to return to normal activity, especially sports. The predictability and high success rates make this option the gold standard for achieving a stable knee and successful recovery.